Well-sinking apparatus.



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Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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WELL SINKING APPARATUS.

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1 ,264, 1 56. Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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MATTHEW T. CHAPMAN, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

WELL-SINKING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

Application filed July 14, 1915. Serial No. 89,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW T. CHAP- YUAN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVell-Sinking Apparatus, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to well sinking apparatus of the ty e comprising a rotary or turntable provided with gripping devices for turning either a boring pipe equipped with suitable boring tools or a well casing pipe which is adapted to be placed in the well down to or beyond a stratum of rock. In the construction shown, other gripping means is provided in connection with the rotary for turning the uppermost section of boring pipe while the lower sections are held against turning for unscrewing the adjacent sections of the boring pipe when the pipe is being removed from the well or for screwing the sections together when the boring pipe is being replaced after having been removed for some necessary attention to the boring too'ls. Means is provided for turning the rotary for the ordinary boring operation, as is usual in apparatus of this type. It is another object of my invention to provide new and improved means for holding the lower sections of boring pipe against rotation when an upper section is being connected thereto or disconnected therefrom. It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of ipping mechanism adapted to be equippe and used alternatively with different types of gripping devices. It is another object of my invention to improve apparatus of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred-means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be ne and desire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims;

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is substantially a. central vertical section through the parts shown in Fig. 1,

but. with a wrench shown in position upon the ripper section ofboring pipe;

Fig. 3 is a deta l of a portion of the rotary showing the worm-driving means in its inoperative position;

Fig. t is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through the rotary and the parts immediately below the rotary, showing the preferred means for rotating the boring pipe for boring purposes;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but with the stationary pipe gripping means removed and with a well casin pipe in position for being turned instead 0. the boring pipe as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the construction shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the parts shown in Fi 5- l i .79 is a side view of the cam member by w icl'i suitable gripping wedges are supported in either their raised position as shown in 13%. 5 or in their lowered position as shown in ig. 2 for gripping a section of the boring pipe and holding it against rota tion;

Fig. 10 is a. perspective View of one of the wedges employed;

Fig. 11 is a top view, partly in section, showing the construction of the gripping mechanism carried by the rotary;

Fig. 12 is a side view of one of the crossheads forming a part of the gripping mech anism mounted upon the rotary, being shown as seen from the right in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the part shown in 12 as seen from the left in Fig. 11;

Fi Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view showing the, gripping members turned up out of operative position, the view being taken substantially on line 1414 of Fig. 8 except for the changed position of the gripping members; an

Fig. 15 is a erspective view of one of the keys employed for holding the gripping members of the structure shown in Figs. 11 and 14 in either their operative position or 1 their inoperative osition;

Referring to t e severaatl figures of the drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated b the same reference characters',-20 in icates a frame having mounted thereon a bed-plate 21. A rotary 22 is revolubly mounted upon the bed-plate 21, beveled rollers 23 being inter osed between the bed-plate and the rotary in suitable 0ptive to the shell 56 they are at the same time moved outward relative thereto. As is best shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the inner faces of the wedges 47 are provided with teeth whereby the wedges are adapted to grip and hold a round pipe as shown in Fig. 2 for holding the pipe against either rota movement or movement longitudinally of itself. As will be readily understood, when the wedges are lowered into engagement with a section of the boring pipe as shown in Fig. 2, the weight of the boring pipe will tend to draw the wedges 47 downward into tight gripping engagement.

Means i provided for raising the wedges 47, when desired, out f engagement with the boring pipe, comprising an annular cam member 63 provided with a plurality of cams 64, one for each of the wedges. As is shown in Figs. '2 and 5, the earns 64 underlie the wedges 47, the lower ends of which are beveled, as best shown in 'Fi 10. When the cam member 63 is rotated in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 1 as hereinafter described, the wedges 47will be caused to ride up the cams 64, by such motion being carried out of engagement with the boring pipe. For the pur use of rendering the cam member 63 readi y rotatable relative to the shell.

56, the lower end of the said cam member is rotatably mounted in a plate 65 secured by any suitable means to the lower end of the said shell.

The means for rotating the cam member 63 comprises a bevel gear 66 which in the construction shown is formed integrally with the body of the member. Meshing with the gear 66 is a bevel ear 67 which 18 revolubly mounted in any suitable manner in the shell 56. A shaft 68 havin a squared inner end fitting in a correspon ingly-shaped opening in the bevel gear 67 is rovided on its outer end with a hand whee 69 through the medium of which the cam member 63 can be rotated in either direction. Whenever it is desired to withdraw the shell 56 from its support upon the bed-plate 21 within the rotary 22, the shaft 68 can be withdrawn out of engagement with the gear 67. When the line of boring pipes is being removed from the well the cam member 63 is referably held in such position as to permit t e wedges 47 to stand in their lowered operative gripping positioln As the boring pipe is raised the wedges will be moved upward as required for the passage of the coupling devices independently of the cam member 63. When the line of boring pipes i bein lowered into the'welhhowever, it is pre erred that the wedges 47be held in their raised position b the cam member 63 so as to permit the fi e's downward movement of the boring pi e without the necessity for manipulating t e hand wheel 69 at intervals for that purpose.

The means mounted upon the rotary.for rotating the square boring pipe section 49 is in the form of a frame, comprising bars 70-71 slidably mounted upon the uprights 53 of the rotary, and cross-heads 7273 adapted to be adjusted relative to the bars 70-7 1. As best shown in Fig. 11, the framebars 70-71 provide slideways for the ends of the cross-heads 72-73, screw-threaded I'Ods 74t-7 5 being mounted in the bars 7071 for holding the cross-heads 72-73 in adjusted position relative to each other. The screw-threads upon the opposite ends of each. of the bars 7475 are such that upon the rotation of such bars both of the cross-heads 72 and 73 are moved simultaneously inward or are moved simultaneously outward. Clips 76 having bifurcated ends are carried by the frame-bars 70-71 adapted to be lowered into operative engagement with the squared ends of the rods 74-75 as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 11 for holding said rods against rotation, or adapted to be raised out of engagement with said rods for permitting the rotation of said rods for the adjustment of the cross-heads 7273 relative to each other. Each of the cross-heads 7273 is provided with a round bar or shaft 77 which is held in position therein by means of pins 77.

Whenever the rotary 22 is to be used for rotating a wall tube section 78 such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the shafts '77 are provided with gripping rollers 79 which are revolubly mounted thereon and spaced away from each other by means of suitable washera 80. As will be readily understood, the position at which the cross-heads 7273 will be held relative to each other and the distance at which the gripping rollers 79 will be spaced from each other will depend upon the size of the well tube section 78 being acted upon.

When the gripping mechanism mounted upon the rotary comprising the bars 7071 and the cross-heads 72--73 is to be used for boring purposes in connection with the square boring pipe section 49, the gripping rollers 79 and the spacing washers 80 are removed from the circular bars or shafts 77, this being made possible by the with drawal of the pins 77 permitting the said bars 77 to be moved inward out of engagement with the cross-heads. Each of the bars 77 is then provided with a gripping deice comprising a gripping jaw 81 and a sleeve 82 adapted to fit between the beari'ngs for the bar 77 in the cross-head. The bars 77 are then replaced in position and secured therein by the ins 77, leaving the mechanism in the con ition shown in Fig. 8, with the gripping devices which are mounted upon the bar 77 adapted to be held in their lowered operative position as shown in Fig. 5 with the gripping jaws comprising a gripping block having a diagonally-disposed ower bearing face, an inclined slideway in which said gripping block is slidably mounted whereby upon an upward movement said block is-carried away from said pipe, and a cam device engaging the diagonally-disposed lower bearing face of said gripping block adapted by a horizontal movement to raise said gripping block out of operative engagement with the pipe.

6. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an upper section of boring pipe, and means for holding a lower section of said pipe against turning, comprising a stationary shell having a plurality of diagonally disposed slideways, gripping blocks slidably mounted in said slideways adapted upon their upward movenicnt therein to move away from said pipe,

a cam member provided with cams engaging the lower ends of said gripping blocks, and means for moving said cam member for raising said blocks out of operative engagement with said pipe.

7. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an upper seetion of boring pipe, and means for holding a lower section of said pipe against turning,

comprising a stationary shell having a plurality of diagonally-clisposed slideways, gripping blocks 'slidably mounted in said slideways adapted upon their upward movement therein to move away from said pipe,

an annular cam member provided with cams engaging the lower ends of said gripping blocks, and means for rotating said cam member for raising said block out of operative engagement with said pipe. 40 8. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an upper section of boring pipe, and means for holding a lower section 0 said pipe against turning, comprising agrippi-ng block having a diagonally-disposed seat whereby upon an up ward movement said block is carried away from said pipe, and means for raising said gripping blocks out of operative engagement with the pipe, said gripping blocks being free to move upward independently of said raising means.

9. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an up er section of boring pipe, and means for olding tion of boring pipe,

a lower section of said pipe against turning, comprising a stationary support provided with diagonallydisposed flanges spaced apart, and a gripping block slidably seated between said flanges, the flanges bein turned about the sides of said gripping bloc 10. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an upper secand means for holding a lower section of said pipe against turning, comprising a stationary support provided with diagonally-disposed flanges spaced apart, and a gripping block provided with laterally-extending flanges slidably seated between the flanges of said support, the lastmentioned flanges being turned about the edges of the flanges of the gripping block.

11. In a well sin'king apparatus, the combination of a rotary, a pair of cross-heads mounted. on said rotary and adjustable toward and from each other,

grippin jaws revolubly mounted on said cross-hear s, and

keys adapted to engage suitable keyways in said jaws for holding the jaws in their operative position for turning a boring pipe.

12. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an upper section of boring pipe, and means for holding a lower section of pipe against turning, comprising a stationary shell, having a plurality of diagonally-disposed slideways, gripping blocks slidably mounted in said slideways adapted upon their upward movement therein to move away from said pipe, and a cam member provided with cams engaging the gripping blocks, and means for moving said cam member for raising said blocks out of operative engagement with said pipe.

13. In a well sinking apparatus, the combination of means for turning an 'upper section of boring pipe, and means for holding a. lower section of pipe against turning, com prising a stationary shell having a plurality of diagonally-disposed slideways, gripping blocks slidably mounted in said slideways a da pted upon their upward movement there an to be moved away from said pipe, an annular cam member provided with cams engaging said gripping blocks, and means for rotating said cam member for raising said blocks out of operative engagement with said pipe.

MATTH'EVV T. CHAPMAN. 

